What to Expect in Paris Hotels

Are you wondering what to expect in your Paris hotel?

If this will be your first visit to the City of Light, my 18 tips about Paris hotels will tell you everything you need to know about choosing a hotel, what to expect once you arrive, and how to get the most from your Paris hotel experience.

With around 1,500 officially recognized hotels in the city, plus other options such as what the French call "aparthotels" (a hybrid between apartments and hotels with kitchenettes, and usually a seating area) and hostels, you'll have a lot of choice in accommodations.

My tips cover:

How the French star rating system works (and how it's different from other countries)
Why your guestroom may seem small
When you might want to consider an aparthotel
Which Paris districts have the best hotels for tourists
Everything you need to know about tipping in Paris hotels
How far in advance to make reservations
Where to find last-minute bargain rates
Where to find accessible accommodations
And lots more!

Top photo: Hotel in Paris's Saint-Germain-des-Prés neighborhood, (c) Paris Discovery Guide

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1. What the Stars Can - And Can't - Tell You

Hotel de Sully's garden in the Marais on a warm afternoon in late March — 5-Star hotel rating sign posted by the front entrance of Hotel du Louvre

If you've started looking at possible hotels for your visit to Paris, you may have already noticed that each hotel has one or more "stars" - but what do they actually mean?

All officially registered Paris hotels are awarded 1 to 5 stars, based on factors such as guestroom size, whether or not a hotel has air conditioning and/or an elevator, and the types and numbers of services.

A few exceptional 5-star hotels even get a special Palace designation.

Once you figure out how to decipher what the stars tell you, you'll know certain things: for example, does the hotel have an elevator? What about air conditioning?

But there are other things the stars don't tell you - things that may be important to you such as the comfort of the bed, the quality of service, or the convenience of the neighborhood.

Find out more about the French hotel star rating system tells you - and what it doesn't

Paris Hotel Map

Want to see more Paris hotels? Use this hotel map from Booking.com to find available accommodations for your travel dates, and make your reservations:

Booking.com

Check out the newest Paris hotels

2. Most Paris Hotel Rooms Are Small

Yes, your Paris hotel room will probably be small - unless you are booking a 5-star or Palace hotel. Even many 4-star hotels offer compact rooms, although they usually have larger rooms (at a higher rate) as well.

Many - perhaps most - centrally-located Paris hotels occupy elegant townhouses and mansions dating back to the 17th or 18th century with footprints not designed to accommodate large rooms.

On the upside, the hotels have usually been beautifully renovated, often with luxurious private bathrooms almost as large as the guestrooms, even in many 3-star hotels.

Survival tip #1: Pack light, and bring only 1 small-to-medium size suitcase.

Survival tip #2: Take a cue from Parisians (who typically live in small apartments), and let Paris be your living space - start your day by lingering over a café crème and croissant at a cafe, spend the day exploring the city, and by 6pm, claim a sidewalk table and relax with an apéro (or two).

Around 8pm, head to a bistro for dinner - make it a leisurely experience with 3 courses and wine and perhaps a digestif (a tiny glass of cognac or similar liquor) - and by the time you return to your hotel at 11-ish pm, you'll be ready for bed.

Yes, your room may be small - but its size doesn't matter if you're only in it while you're sleeping.

3. Paris Hotel Elevators Are Even Smaller

Unless you're staying in a 4- or 5-star hotel, expect the elevator in your Paris hotel to be tiny (if it has one at all), and just large enough to fit 1-2 people and a suitcase or two.

And remember, most 1-star, many 2-star, and even a few 3-star hotels don't have elevators, nor do they typically have someone to help you with your luggage - so if you want to avoid hoisting your bags up several flights of stairs, pack light, and verify the presence of an elevator or lift when you book.

4. Air Conditioning - Don't Assume Your Hotel Will Have It!

Most, but not all, 3-star Paris hotels and even some 2-stars have air conditioning, even though it is required only for 4-star and 5-star properties.

Paris summers can get hot - sometimes very hot - and steamy, so if you are traveling during this period, you will probably want to book a hotel with a/c.

Until relatively recently, most hotels in Paris did not offer air conditioning, which is actually a plus for present-day visitors: most hotel a/c systems are fairly new, quiet, and comfortable, with individual controls in each guestroom.

If you're used to the relatively poor a/c systems in many American and Canadian hotels, even those at the upper end of the luxury spectrum, get ready to feel pleasantly surprised by the quality of the a/c in Paris hotels.

5. Why Should You Consider Paris Aparthotels?

A Paris aparthotel gives you the best of both worlds - the spaciousness and amenities of a furnished and fully-equipped apartment complete with kitchenette combined with (almost always) the professional services of a hotel. For example, if an aparthotel's wifi stops working during August when tout le monde has left the city, the aparthotel's manager will make the necessary calls to get it fixed. In an apartment, good luck. (Don't ask me how I know this!)

Aparthotel services vary from just weekly cleaning to daily cleaning, breakfast buffets, laundry facilities, and a concierge. Accommodations range from plain and simple - think college dorm room - to luxury. Some may have a fitness room, coworking space, and/or kid-friendly amenities.

Depending on the aparthotel's location, size, and level of service, daily rates will typically be similar or maybe somewhat less than you'd pay for a hotel room - but you usually get significantly more space and, of course, the kitchen.

They often run less than what you'd pay for an apartment (which also tend to have added fees), plus you get the daily or weekly cleaning and other services.

Take a look at Paris aparthotels & apartments

6. Can You Smoke in Paris Hotels?

No. By law, all Paris hotels are non-smoking. Fines for violations are hefty, and hotels will also add on cleaning fees - so don't risk it!

7. Which Areas Have the Best Hotels?

If you want to be close to major tourist attractions, make your Paris hotel reservations in these arrondissements:

1st - Louvre Museum, Palais Royal Garden, Jardin des Tuileries, Sainte-Chapelle,La Conciergerie, Musée de l'Orangerie.

Find 1st Arrondissement hotels

2nd - No major attractions in this small district, but plenty of lesser-known ones including the Drouot auction house (my favorite spot offering free admission and the chance to view seldom-seen, almost priceless art, and some of the most fascinating historic covered passages - 19th century precurssors to modern shopping malls, plus some wonderful food streets and markets.

Hotels in the 2nd arrondissements also position you near top attractions in the 1st, 3rd, and 4th districts.

Find 2nd Arrondissement hotels

3rd - The Upper Marais neighborhood, home to numerous smaller museums including the Picasso Museum, Fondation Henri Cartier-Bresson (a "must" for photography fans), Musée des Arts et Métiers, Jewish Art and History Museum, Musée Carnavalet, and probably more.

The 3rd also has gorgeous parks, many of which are almost hidden, plus lots of small boutiques, art galleries, and bistros.

Find 3rd Arrondissement hotels

4th - The lower part of the Marais (trendy shops and restaurants), Centre Pompidou (closed until 2030), and Île de la Cité, home to Notre Dame Cathedral,- truly, one of the city's most densely-packed districts in terms of important monuments and places.

Find hotels in Le Marais

5th - Latin Quarter, Panthéon, Cluny Museum, Institute de Monde Arab, and the Jardin des Plantes where you'll find a botanical garden, greenhouses that host a famous orchids display each February, a super-popular natural history museum, and a small menagerie.

Find Latin Quarter hotels

6th - Luxembourg Gardens, Saint-Germain-des-Prés neighborhood, many upscale art galleries, restaurants, boutiques

Find 6th Arrondissement hotels

7th - Eiffel Tower, Branly Museum, Invalides, Champ des Mars

Find 7th Arrondissement hotels

Find the best hotels near th Eiffel Tower

8th - Arc de Triomphe, Champs Élysées, Golden Triangle designer boutiques

Find 8th Arrondissement hotels

9th - Opéra Garnier (Paris Opera), Galeries Lafayette, other large department stores

Find 9th Arrondissement hotels

Find hotels near the Paris Opera House

12th - This former working-class neighborhood has become trendy during the past decade, thanks to all the buzzy clubs, innovative cuisine, and cool lesser-known things to see and do here. Plus, hotel rates tend to be lower. Neighborhoods around Bastille, Gare de Lyon, and Bercy Park/Accor Arena are especially popular.

Find 12th Arrondissement hotels

16th - Hotels in the Trocadero neighborhood across from the Eiffel Tower and near the Palais de Tokyo, Musée Guimet, Natural History Museum, and even the Arc de Triomphe are great choices.

The Passy neighborhood is also quite nice, with small museums, a wonderful covered market and food street, and an upscale shopping area with numerous designer boutiques.

Other areas of this large arrondissement are mostly residential (except for the wonderful Marmottan Museum, the Roland Garros tennis courts, and a few other specialty destinations).

17th - Hotels close to the Arc de Triomphe and in the Batignolles neighborhood are the most popular. Many are more affordable (check out these budget hotels near the Arc) than those just a few blocks away in the 8th and 16th.

The Batignolles neighborhood is almost next door to Montmartre, so if you're looking for something more authentic/less touristy, this neighborhood is a hidden gem, with some wonderful hotels.

18th - The Montmartre neighborhood is popular with visitors because of its village-like vibe, picturesque hills, and numerous attractions, and it has a number of 2-, 3-, and 4-star hotels.

Hotel rates in Montmarte tend to be relatively lower, even in the summer and especially in the winter, than other tourist-centric parts of the city because it's further from the center but the metro makes getting almost anywhere in the city quick and easy.

Find hotels & aparthotels in Montmartre

The rest of the 18th district gets mostly overlooked by tourists, but you can find some great values - just make sure you're near a convenient metro station for easy access to the rest of the city.

If you're visiting with kids, you might want to avoid staying in the area along Boulevard de Clichy near the Clichy metro station as the "adult toy" shops along this stretch feature a lot of eye-catching neon-lit, um, products that you may not want to explain to your curious 9-year old.

In case you're wondering, the area is safe, although it sometimes get a bit raucous late in the evening when tipsy tourists spill out of the nearby bars, caberets, and clubs.

Find out more about each Paris district, plus an arrondissement map

8. Are Hotels Outside of Paris A Good Way to Save Money?

No, not usually. What you'll save in money you'll spend in time and transportation costs getting to central Paris where most attractions are located.

Most of the big (cheaper) hotels outside of the city limits are located along the charmless Périphérique, the multilane highway circling the city, so you would also not have access to many dining options.

But, there are exceptions - take a look:

La Défénse - Glittering new business district to the west of metropolitan Paris. This area offers lots of shopping and dining, its own Grande Arche lined up with Arc de Triomphe, and numerous mammoth sculptures along its Esplanade, where a huge Christmas market sets up every December. Hop on the Métro at the La Défénse station and you'll reach the Louvre in about 10 minutes.
Bonus: hotel room in this suburban areas tend to be larger than those in the city.
Tip: for the most convenience, choose a hotel within easy walking distance of the La Défénse or Esplanade de La Défénse metro stations. See hotels in La Défénse
Disneyland Paris - Sure, you can easily visit from Paris in a day - but why not thrill your kids (and make the experience more relaxing for you) by staying longer - especially since hotels tend to be cheaper than those in the city a?
Tip: Disneyland Paris is super-easy to reach by train or bus from Paris, the most conveniently located hotels are those on the Disney property itself in Chessy, France (a Paris suburb) and nearby areas at hotels near Disneyland Paris with free shuttle service
Versailles - Another place that's almost too wonderful to rush through in a day, especially when getting there is easy and there are lovely hotels and appealing bistros and brasseries near the Palace.
Find out best places to stay near Versailles - including one inside the Palace and another on the Estate grounds

9. How Can You Tell if a Hotel is Really in Paris When You Book Online?

Some online hotel booking sites skirt the truth when describing a hotel as being in Paris. To be sure the hotel is actually in Paris, look at the postal code in the address.

If the hotel is in the City of Paris, the first 3 digits will be 750. The last 2 digits will be a number between 01 and 20, and correspond to the arrondissement number.

For example, 75003 is in the 3rd Arrondissement, which includes the Upper Marais neighborhood.

Another example: 94300 is NOT in Paris.

Why is this important to know? If you're looking for hotels online, you may see "Paris" hotels that are actually outside of the city.

So always make sure you verify the address!

Before you book, you should also find the hotel on a map to verify its location and also check its picture.

There are a few areas within Paris along the Périphérique, the highway circling the city, with massive high-rise hotels with appealingly cheap rates but they're next to the highway and lack both charm and the neighborhood environment normally associated with Paris. That's fine if that's what you want - but just be sure that you know what you're booking. Consider using Google Maps to get a street view of the property.

10. What Is the Difference Between a Relais and a Hotel?

There is no difference.

Relais literally means stopover, and is sometimes used to mean a country inn or retreat.

Not many hotels in Paris use Relais in their name rather than Hôtel - but those that do tend to be upscale, with at least 4 stars and often 5. For example, check out the luxurious and highly rated 5-star Relais Christine (see reviews and best rates on Booking.com) in the 6th arrondissement on the Left Bank.

11. Do Paris Hotel Rates Include Breakfast?

Maybe, maybe not.

Although hotel rates do not normally include breakfast, some hotels may include it as a special offer - check when you make reservations.

By law, all French hotels with star ratings must serve breakfast onsite. The cost can be as low as 5-6 Euros in a simple 1-star hotel offering juice, hot beverages, and pastries, or as high as 40-50 (or more) Euros at 5-star hotels serving lavish buffet spreads.

You can almost aways save money by heading to a nearby café or bakery for coffee and a croissant, especially if you carry it out; there's sometimes a small extra charge if you order it sur place ("for here") and sit at a table to drink it.

Hotels, especially the smaller ones, do not love to see you bring in food that might make insect-attracting crumbs in your room, so find a park bench where you can enjoy your breakfast or figure out how to camouflauge what you're bringing in.

Coffee-to-go used to be a rarity in Paris but is now quite easy to find. Look for branches of bakery/cafe chains such as Le Pain Quotidien, Prêt à Manger, Paul Bakery, and yes, even Starbucks. Independent high-quality coffee shops have popped up all over Paris within the last few years, and some such as Noir even have multiple locations. Many/most independent bakery also now offer coffee to go, although the quality ranges from dismal to excellent.

12. Are Internet-Only Non-Refundable Rates a Good Deal?

Maybe.

The answer depends on 2 factors:

1) Are you absolutely sure you won't change your plans? Most non-refundable rates must be made when you book your room. If you cancel, you forfeit your payment.

2) How big a discount is the hotel offering you? Non-refundable rates typically are about 10% less than the refundable rate - but sometimes discounts go as high as 25%. So if you're sure of your plans, you can potentially save a LOT of money!

You may also be able to use travel insurance to protect you against last minute cancelations under some circumstances. Obviously, read the fine print to make sure what's covered and what the terms or limitations are, but if this works for you, it can potentially save you money.

13. What Kinds of Amenities Do Paris Hotels Provide?

That depends entirely on the hotel.

Although the star rating system dictates the minimum number and type of amenities at each star level, most hotels provide more - sometimes a lot more - for competitive reasons.

Most 3-star hotels, for example, provide hair driers, upscale toiletries brands, private safes, and in-room coffee, tea makers, and mini-fridges.

Many 4-star hotels provide robes and slippers, umbrellas, luxury-label toiletries, high-end electronics, and perhaps a bottle of wine and chocolates.

Most 5-star hotels provide similar amenities to 4-stars plus an additional level of onsite facilities such as a spa, restaurants, and recreational options such as a swimming pool and well-equipped fitness room.

14. How Much Should I Tip in a Paris Hotel?

Opinions and practices vary. Tipping is generally not necessary or expected in Paris hotels, which take pride in the service they provide and consider it part of earning a good reputation.

However, if you stay in a hotel for more than 2-3 nights, you may want to leave a tip of 1€-2€/night for the housekeeping staff; if you've made a mess of the room in some way, leave more. The time-honored custom is to put the tip on the bed pillow along with a note saying "Merci!"

If you ask the hotel's front desk reception staff to suggest a few restaurants or even call to secure a table for you, a tip is not necessary since this level of service is a routine part of what Paris hotels provide. (On a few occasions, I've observed reception staff refuse tips, saying "it's not necessary.")

If you are staying in a hotel with a concierge (which are uncommon except in some 5-star hotels as well as at 5-star "Palace" hotels) who goes out of his/her way to procure hard-to-get reservations or tickets for you, a tip of 5-10 Euros or more, depending on the number of reservations, is reasonable although not necessary, since this is a service that's already built into your hefty room rate.

Tipping for room service isn't usually necessary or expected if the hotel prepared the food being delivered to you. However, if the person delivering it to you ran down the street to your favorite restaurant to pick it up and bring it to you before it gets cold (I've literally seen this happen), then by all means give a tip of 5-10 Euros unless the hotel adds a service or delivery charge (which many do).

15. How Far in Advance Should I Make Hotel Reservations?

With around 30 million leisure and business visitors to Paris each year, competition for hotel reservations can be fierce during the busiest months (typically April through October). The most popular hotels book up far in advance. Remember, many Parisian hotels are tiny, with fewer than 30 guestrooms.

Book your hotel as soon as you know your dates. If you want to stay in a great hotel in a popular area, such as the 1st, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, or 18th Arrondissements, keep in mind that many Paris visitors book 4-6 months in advance or even earlier. You should too - if you want to get your first choice.

16. Last Minute Deals

If you've waited until the last possible minute to make reservations, why not get a great deal and last-minute booking discounts?

To find out what's available, find out how to get last-minute deals.

You'll be amazed by how much you can save!

17. What Time is Check-in/Check-out in Paris Hotels?

Typically, check-in at Paris hotels is at 2pm-3pm. Paris hotel check out time is at 11am-12 noon.

So what do with your bags if you arrive in Paris on an early flight or train? Most hotels, especially at the 3-star and greater level, will be happy to store your bags for you until your room is ready. Email or call your hotel prior to arrival to make sure.

Likewise, if you have a late flight or train, most hotels will let you leave your bags at the hotel until you are ready to depart.

Many, if not most, 4- and 5-star hotels will put your bags into a locked room for safe keeping. Three-star and lower hotels will be more likely to simply stash your luggage behind or near the reception desk.

If you arrive before check-in time and your room is ready for you, most hotels will let you check in early.

18. Are Paris Hotels Accessible?

French regulations require that hotels and all other places open to the public be accessible to people with physical, visual, hearing, and mental challenges and disabilities as of January 1, 2015.

For hotels and "aparthotels," accessibility concerns mainly focus on eliminating physical barriers - not a trivial undertaking in a city with so many smaller boutique hotels located in 16th, 17th-, and 18th-century buildings.

Despite the law's 2015 compliance date, you can't automatically assume that every hotel meets the accessibility standards you might expect - but the good news is that they've made impressive progress.

For example, most hotels in the 3-star and higher rating categories now offer at least one guestroom with wider doors, accessible showers, lower light switches, etc., and some are creating ground-level rooms for even easier and safer (for example, in case of fire) wheelchair access.

Numerous Paris hotels now also have earned the French "Tourism & Handicap" certification. However, it does not mean a hotel meets accessibility standards for all four types of disabilities, so check when making your reservations.

Even better, call the hotel directly to confirm they can meet your needs, especially if you need to use a wheelchair. Depending on your wheelchair's size and the size of the hotel's elevator (many are tiny), it may not fit.

Here's a another big caveat you should know about: "accessible" doesn't always mean "no stairs" even if the hotel does have an elevator roomy enough for your wheelchair.

In some older hotel lobbies, a short flight of stairs leads to a small landing with access to an elevator - useless for anyone in a wheelchair. Relatively few hotels have a special elevator to lift you and your wheelchair up to the level of the regular elevator. So again - aways call and ask before you book if accessibility is a concern.

If you are dependent on a wheelchair or any other assistive device for getting around or even if a temporary injury has made you dependent on crutches for getting around, you should only book ground-floor guestrooms with no steps or impediments to getting to the sidewalk.